Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Is Worrying Hormonal?

Looking back at the genetic women who were close to me in my life, they were all worriers to some extent.
As I approach the first three months of my hormonal change, I seem to be worrying more than I have ever in my entire life.
I have wondered recently if my increased level of worrying may be a product of the hormones as much as my sore breasts?
With the vast experience of all of you, I'm sure more than a few of you can lend some expertise.
Along the same subject of experience, perhaps you have heard of the transsexual woman who was denied drink specials on "Ladies' Night" at a  Florida bar. Here's the story from the "Tampa Bay Times".
"Alex Borrego walked into Bishop Tavern and Lounge with friends Thursday night looking for an evening of fun.
At the door, a bouncer invited Borrego and one of her friends — a drag queen — to partake in free drinks as part of the Tavern's weekly "ladies night." But later, as the pair sipped vodka and cranberry juice from their pink cups, another bouncer approached.
"You guys don't get to participate," they were told. "Because you're dudes."
Borrego, whose driver's license lists her gender as female, showed her ID, but the bouncer was unrelenting.
A heated dispute ensued. Words were exchanged. And the group left the bar.
Afterward, a few in Borrego's group, which included three female-to-male transgender people, launched a Facebook campaign to boycott Bishop Tavern and Lounge, 260 First Ave. N.
The group understood the bar's denial of her friend's participation in "ladies night," Borrego said. But as a legal woman, her treatment was nothing short of discrimination, she said.
Borrego was born male, but went through two years' worth of hormone adjustment and gender-change measures to become female.
"Legally, I'm a woman," Borrego said. "And to deny me to participate in ladies night — that's very disrespectful."
By midday Friday, the Facebook group had attracted more than 250 fans, who issued messages of support for the boycott.
The controversy quickly caught the attention of Dean Marshlack, owner of Bishop Tavern and Lounge, who got in touch with Borrego and her friends Friday and apologized profusely.
"Our staff, in my opinion, didn't do anything with the intent to harm somebody," Marshlack said. "I don't think the bouncer's statement came from a place that was meant to be harmful. I think it came from a place of being misinformed."
Marshlack said he plans to speak with his staff about the incident and ensure that from now on, transgender people will be treated with respect. The Tavern also wants to work with the community to raise awareness of transgender issues.
Late Friday, a public apology was also posted on the Facebook and Twitter pages for Bishop Tavern and Lounge."

Has this ever happened to you? Personally, I have only been in the situation once and was served the discount beverages without a comment. This not a statement of how I may have presented. It is a statement that it happened.  
So for once I have no interesting story. I'm sure many of you do! 


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